squash dispersal
 

Thinking of some modern-day wild gourds--they float quite well and are
often found along streams and on sandbars. Other species have fruit
that coyotes and other critters will tear into, though some are fruits
are so bitter you'd wonder why.

Now, what was the original dispersal agent of Maclura pomifera (osage
orange, bois d'arc) fruits? That's what I'd like to know! That is a
lot of energy for a plant to expend, making that horrendous,
foul-sapped fruit that's too heavy for nearly anything to carry away.
Was there some giant ground sloth or woolly rhino that relished the
things whole?

M. Reed


Question of the day: prior to Native American horticulture, what was the seed
dispersal method for squashes?

Jie-san Laushi

Huodau lau, xuedau lau, hai you sanfen xue bulai
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